Clock mechanism and means for winding said mechanism



Jan. 20. 1925. 1,523,641

J. w. HANSEN ET AL CLOCK MECHANISM AND MEANS FOR WINDING SAID MECHANISM Eiled April 11, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1' Jwuewo'vs JULIUS WHANSEN, WILL/AM L,HA/vsEN,

Jan. 20. 1925. 1,523,641

J. w. HANSEN ET AL CLOCK MECHANISM AND MEANS FOR WINDING SAID MECHANISM v Filed April 11, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEH ms JZ/L/l/S WHANSEN,

FITTORNEYS J. W. HANSEN ET AL CLOCK MECHANISM AND MEANS FOR WINDING SA ID MECHANISM Filed April 11, 1924 3 Sheets-She?+ Jwm (Tm/us W /A NSEN,

VWLLIAMLHANJEN,

Patented Jan. 20, 1925.

trio.

JULIUS 'WILLZIIAIYI HANSEN AND WILLIAM L. HANSEN, O'F PRINCETON, INDIANA.

CLOCK IVIECHANISM AND MEANS FOR VJ'INDING SAID MECHANISM.

Application filed April 11, 1924.

To all 'LU/LOIIL it may concern Be it known that we, Jomus WILLIAM Hansen and l/VILLIAM Lns'rnn HANsnN, citizens ot' the United States, residing at Princeton, in the county of Gibson and State oi? Indiana. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clock Mechanism and Means for Winding said Mechanism, oi which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

Uur invention relates to clock mechanism and means tor winding said mechanism.

it is the object of our invention to provide a clock mechanism which may be automatically wound. It is a further object of our invention to provide such a clock mechanism which may be wound by electrical means.

It is one oi the primary purposes of our invention to provide an electrical winding of the clock mechanism when it runs down, in which the contacts will he made and broen suddenl so that such contacts will be substantially electrically perfect and any arcing and pitting of the contact points will be obviated.

it is an additional object of our invention to provide self-contained means in a clock mechanism of always maintaining it in wound condition and of winding it electrically despite the fact the electrical mecha nism may be rendered inoperative at certain periods. It is our object to provide such a combination of parts so that the temporary inoperativeness of the electrical mechanism will not affect the clock when the current goes on or otl within any reasonable period of time.

It is an additional object of our invention to control the sudden making and breaking of the electrical contacts through the main spring of the clock and the relative position of that spring with reference to the center of its winding.

It will be also understood that it is an object of our invention to provide a clock mechanism in which electrical contacts are controlled and may be suddenly made or broken, even though such contacts are not used for the purpose of controlling the winding oi the clock, but are used for the purpose of controlling electrical circuits and apparatus for use other than the winding of the clock itself.

Serial No. 705,745.

It is a further object oi our invention to provide a clock which may be wound by alternating current. it is an additional object to provide a novel form of winding the armature oi' the motor and a form of drive between the motor and the clock. which will obviate any destruction of the clock. in case the current goes on, without some such precaution the delicate mechanism of the clock might be injured.

It is a. further object of our invention to provide a novel arrangement of electrical circuits in combination with this clock, so that a minimum of wiring will be necessary.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 'l is a plan view of the contact controlling mechanism showing the clock in running position, with the main spring partially unwound and the contacts open.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view similar to Figure l, but showing the contacts in engagement with one 2L110l3l161',tl16 engagement just having been made, the spring having unwound.

Figure l is a detail view of the arrangement of the main spring and the pin inserted therein, which imparts the movement of the main spring to the contact controlling mechanism.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the contacts just suddenly snapped open upon the spring being wound sufficiently and now ready to expand for further running of the clock.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the assembled mechanism of transi'orn'ier, motor, and clock mechanism, with the upper plate of the clock removed in order to show the arrangement of the several parts.

Figure 7 is a detail view of one of the armature disks, showing the winding of the armature to a limited extent, sufficient to show the method of the progressive winding thereof.

Referring to the drawings in detail:

The electric current is supplied through the lines 1 and 2 to the transformer 3. The transformer is connected by the wire t to the motor, whose stator or field winding 5 is connected to the wire 4:. This in turn is connected by the wire 6 to the other field T. This field is connected by the wire 8 to the brush 9, which rides on the armature 10. The other brush i1 is connected by the wire 'with a cam surface 12 to the frame 13 of the clock, which constitutes a ground. The other side of the circuit leads from the transformer through the wire 14 to the contact finger 15, which is carried on the block 16 of insulating material, which is suspended beneath the top plate of the clock frame. Tliis finger engages w th a contact drum 17, which is mounted on a sleeve of insulating material '18 that is in turn carried by the gear 20. Loosely mounted on the shaft 19 is the gear 20 and the gear 21 is fastened to the said shaft 19. The gear 20 and 21 are spaced fromone another and have located there between the main spring 22.

Between the coils of this main spring is located the pin 25, which projects upwardly through a slot 26 in the gear 20. This pin moves inwardly and outwardly in such slot by the contraction and expansion of the spring 22. A 'V-shaped depression 27 is formed in the spring for receiving the pin to an actuating arm 28. The arm 28 piv oted on the stud '29, above the collar 30. The stud 29 is carried by the gear The 7 free end of this actuating arm is provided with an actuating pin 31, which projects upwardly through a slot 32. formed in the lever This. lever is pivoted on the stud 29 adjacent the actuating arm 28 and is located in a horizontal plane and secured by the collar34. Its outer end is provided The lever is semicircular, the rear surface being curved til) tion for the jaw 48.

to form a cam surface for engaging with the guide pin 36.

The actuatingarm 28 is provided with a shoulder 37. which engages with the corresponding shoulder 38 upon' occasion for moving the pawl 39, which is pivoted on the stud 40 out of engagement with the look ing pins 41 and 42, carried by the jaw 43..

The pawl stud 40 is mounted on the gear 20. The jaw studs 44 and 45 are also carried by the gear 20. The pin 46 constitutes a stop to limit the outward motion of the jaw 43, while the pin 47 performs a similar func- The pin 49 acts as a stop for the lever 33. The two jaws 43 and 48 have engaging shoulders or cam surfaces 50. 'wl'iich are drawn together by the helical spr ng 51. This spring is mounted upon the studs 52 and carriedrespectively by the jaws 48 and 43. If under a strain, this This spring is connected at its other end to the stud 40. The function of this spring is r in the shaft 59. The other end of the spring is inserted in the slot 62 in the shaft 63. The end of this shaft is carried in the bear ing 64. It also carries the worm 65. This worm drives the following train of gearing "for tightening the main spring 22 and therefore winding the clock mechanismz' gear 66, pinion 67,'gear 68, pinion 69 and 7 gear 21-.

The brushes 9 and 11 are maintained in contact with the armature by the springs 70 and 71.

The rotor of the motor is composed of a plurality of disks 72 having the slots 73. The winding consists of the wire 7 4 looped in the slot 73 and then carried to the slot 78, whence it-is returned to the slot 7 3 and back again to the slot 7 3 whence it is returned to the slot 73 and back again to the slot 73*, thus giving a progressive or fan winding of the armature. a

The gear 20 drives the following train of gearing for actuating the verge 75: the pin gear 76, gear 77, pin gear 78, gear 79, pin gear 80 and the escapement gear 81, which engages-with the teeth 82 of the verge 75, mounted on the shaft 83. The spring arm of the verge is not shown for the purpose of clearness.

Method of operation.

The primary object of this invention is, as it has been stated, the making and breaking of electrical contacts suddenly for the automatic winding of the clock when necessary by electric power, or power brought into play through an electrical circuit, the contacts of which are thus made or broken quickly. V

In Figure 1 it will be noted that the parts are in the position where the clock is running with the spring partially unwound and the contacts open. The pawl 39 engaging with the pins 41 and 42 prevents the inwardmovement of the contacts. The jaws 48 and r 43 are separated. The spring 51 is under tension. The spring 58 'is also under ten sion, because the lever 35 is in aposition where it has thrust the jaw 48 outwardly the maximum distance. The spring 51 is tending to'bring the jaws together so that they will move as a unitand the spring 58 is tending to move both of the jaws] It will be noted that the points of attachment of the spring 51 are at points below the pivotal lfll) centers of the jaws, so that the action of the spring 51 is to draw the jaws together, facilitating the making of the contact.

As the spring winds when the contacts are closed as in Figure 3, the pin 25, actuating arm 28, and actuating pin 31 are gradually moved inwardly so that the pin 31 engages with the inner end of the slot 32 in the lever 33, carrying that lever inwardly from a point where it has been in engagement with the pin 49 until the cam surface 35 passes by the pin 36, when suddenly the pin 36 moves down the rear curved edge of the lever 33, suddenly shitting it inwardly under the impulsion of the spring 58 which simultaneously moves the jaw 48 inwardly. This sudden movement inwardly of the lever carries it to a position where the pin 31 is now in the outer end of the slot 32, thus permitting of the snap action desired in the making of the contact suddenly, as will be hereinafter described. This violent inward movement of the lever ahead of the actuating arm and pin allows the helical spring 58 to suddenly contract and move the jaw 48 inwardly. The jaw 48 carries with it bodily, through the influence of the spring 51, the jaw 43, the outer end of which at this moment suddenly moves outwardly breaking the contact. During this period of the inward movement of the spring which is being wound by the motor and the inward movement of the actuating arm and pin, as well as the inward movement of the lever 33 the pawl 39 is, of course, out of engagement with the pins 41 and 42 in the position shown in Figure 3. Immediately upon the sudden snapping inwardly ot' the arm 33 and the breaking of the contacts, the head of the pawl falls in between the pins 41 and 42 to prevent the restoration of the contacts.

We have now passed from the winding stage of the clock into the unwinding stage. The actuating arm and pin are moved outwardly by the unwinding of the main spring 22 and gradually draw the arm 33 outwardly until the pin 36 passes on to the cam surface 35, during which time the spring 51 is being gradually flexed and the jaw 48 moved outwardly away from the jaw 43, which is held stationary by the pawl 39 and the pins 41 and 42. When the parts have reached a point where it is desired to rewind the spring by making the contacts to set. the motor in operation again for that purpose, then the shoulder 37 coming in contact with the shoulder 38 throws the pawl out of engagement with the pins 41 and 42, allowing the spring 51 to snap the jaw 43 inwardly, suddenly making the electrical contacts between 54 and 55. This starts the winding of the spring and the inward movement of the actuating pin 31 to repeat the operation over 2 L am.

It will be observed that there will be sufficient power in the spring to operate the clock a number of hours without further action on the part of the electric motor, so that whether the current is on or oil during this period is of no consequence.

WVe desire to comprehend within our invention such modifications as may be necessary to adapt it to varying conditions.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination in an automatically winding clock, of means to wind the main spring of said clock, a main spring, means carried thereby to move inwardly and outwardly, an actuating lever connected therewith, an actuating pin, an arm having a slot in which said pin operates, a pair of jaws pivoted on said clock, yielding means to draw said jaws together, a second yielding means adapted to draw one of said jaws in wardly, said lever with the slot being adapted to control the movement of said jaw, a pawl adapted to hold the other jaw in its outermost position, and means on the actuating arm for disengaging said pawl to permit the second jaw to move inwardly. an electrical contact carried by said second jaw, and a second electrical contact adapted to suddenly engage or be disengaged from the first mentioned electrical contact.

2. In combination in an automatically winding clock, of means to wind the main spring of said clock, a main spring, means carried thereby to move inwardly and outvardly, an actuating lever connected therewith, an actuating pin, an arm having a slot in which said pin operates, a pair of jaws pivoted on said clock, yielding means to draw said jaws together, a second yielding means adapted to draw one of said aws inwardly, said lever with the slot being adapted to control the movement of said jaw, a pawl adapted to hold the other jaw in its outermost position, and means on the actuating arm for disengaging said pawl to permit the second jaw to move inwardly, an electrical contact carried by said second jaw, and a second electrical contact adapted to suddenly engage or be disengaged from the first mentioned electrical contact, the first mentioned yielding means being attached to said jaws to one side of their pivots so as to draw them together towards the center of the clock.

3. In combination in a clock, of a main spring, a master gear connected therewith, means for driving said master gear to wind said spring, a pair of jaws pivoted on said gear. means yieldingly to draw said jaws together. a pin projecting into the said main spring and adapted to be moved inwardly and outwardly with the spring in a slot in said gear, a lever pivoted on said gear and connected to said pin, a second pin projectl'Hl der on the pawl and a shoulder on the first mentioned lever, whereby when said shoulders engage, the pawl is released from the second jaw and the contacts are suddenly made in the outermost position of the main spring and when said pin is moved to its innermost position, the filSE- IIIGHtlOHQd-j aw is suddenly; released and the'second jaw is suddenly moved outwardly to break said contact. I a

4. In a clock mechanism, a, main spring having one end mounted on a gear and the other end fixed to a shaft, a pin embraced between the leaves of the main spring adapt ed to be moved inwardly and outwardly with the expansion and contraction of the spring, the upper end of'the pin moving in a slot n the gear, a movable contact carried by the gear, a stationary contact, a contact ring carrying the stationary contact, an insulating ring carrying the contact ring and being mounted upon the shaft to which the spring is attached, means controlled by the inward movement of the pin carried by the main spring for suddenly breaking said contacts, means for holding said contacts open, and means controlled by said pin for releasing the holdingmeans and suddenly closing said contacts.

5. In a clock, a main spring, a supporting plate connected to said main spring, a shaft connected to said main spring, a contact and a contact ring carried by said shaft, but insulated therefrom, a moving contact carried by said plate, means to hold said contacts open, means carried by the main spring to control the opening and closing of, said con tacts, and a controlling lever loosely connected to said controlling means adapted,

carried by said plate, means to hold said ing mechanism, and a. contact finger adapted to engage said contact ring to maintain an electrical circuit, the other side of which is grounded on said clock mechanism,

In testimony whereof, we atlix our signatures.

JULIUS WILLIAM HANSEN. WILLIAM L. HANSEN; 

